Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has commemorated the sixth anniversary of the Lekki Toll Gate shootings, calling for justice, accountability and respect for human rights.

Obi made this known in a statement on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, describing the incident involving #EndSARS protesters in Lagos as a painful reminder of the sacrifices made by Nigerian youths in their demand for a better country.

According to him, the shootings left Nigerians with unresolved questions about justice, accountability and the protection of human life.

He said, “Today, October 20, 2026, marks the sixth anniversary of the Lekki Toll Gate shootings, a painful reminder of the price Nigerian youths paid in their demand for a better country.

“On that fateful night, peaceful #EndSARS protesters were met with gunfire. Lives were lost, many were injured, and the nation was left with questions about justice, accountability, and the sanctity of human life.

“We must never forget. We must never normalise injustice.”

The former Anambra State governor reaffirmed his belief that a better Nigeria is possible, stressing that citizens should be protected rather than brutalised and that young people should be heard rather than silenced.

He maintained that government power must be exercised responsibly and with respect for fundamental human rights, adding that no Nigerian should be punished for demanding good governance and a better future.

Obi also urged Nigerians to remember the victims of the incident and allow their sacrifice to strengthen the collective resolve to prevent a recurrence.

“May the souls of the departed continue to rest in peace. May their sacrifice strengthen our resolve to build a Nigeria where this tragedy will never be repeated.

“A New Nigeria is POssible. A Nigeria where every life matters,” he added.

The #EndSARS protests began in October 2020, as young Nigerians took to the streets to demand an end to police brutality and reforms of the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The Lekki Toll Gate shootings on October 20, 2020, became one of the defining moments of the nationwide demonstrations.